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Black bear, mountain lion,bobcat and other meso-carnivores among others likely inhabit <br /> the project area sporadically. Home ranges of these species can be very large resulting in a small <br /> probability of occupancy at any one time. <br /> Environmental Effects <br /> Proposed Action <br /> Direct and Indirect Impacts: Species mentioned above may be seen or their sign <br /> identified within the project boundary. The project action will be the 0.6 acres of ground <br /> disturbed by the proposed mining operation modification and an additional buffer area that will <br /> be impacted by noise and human presence. The proposed action will cause a temporary loss of <br /> existing habitat, including mule deer winter range, due to excavation. <br /> Indirectly habitat will be lost during operation hours due to noise, vehicle traffic and human <br /> presence near the boundary of the project area. Indirect losses may be substantially larger than <br /> the direct loss (Sawyer et al.2006). However, the additional acreage is difficult to quantify <br /> because species react and adapt differently to anthropogenic features and activity. The action <br /> area is currently being impacted by noise due to existing operations and it is likely wildlife <br /> present has become habituated to this impact. <br /> Protective/Mitigation Measures: None. <br /> Cumulative Impacts: Recent rise in gold prices and interest in both recreational mineral <br /> specimen collection and mining activity under the Mining Law has increased on the Arkansas <br /> River creating additional disturbances to obligate riparian wildlife species and stream-banks. <br /> Activities proposed here are cumulative to those other disturbances and activities, such as <br /> fishing,park development and rafting activities, and the other activities along the Arkansas River <br /> corridor. <br /> No Action Alternative <br /> Direct and Indirect Impacts: None <br /> Protective/Mitigation Measures: None <br /> Finding on the Public Land Health Standard for Plant and Animal Communities: The proposed <br /> action will have no effect on the public land health standards for plant and animal communities. <br /> 3.3.7 MIGRATORY BIRDS <br /> Affected Environment: <br /> The action area occurs within a riparian corridor that is not dissimilar to many others in <br /> the area. The yellow warbler is the species most commonly found in deciduous foothills riparian <br /> systems followed by American robin,northern flicker,house wren, warbling vireo, song <br /> sparrow,western wood-pewee, and broad-tailed hummingbird. <br /> The habitat type is primarily pinyon pine and juniper. Open areas of mountain grassland <br /> are interspersed throughout the area and mountain shrubs such as gambel oak,currant and <br /> mountain mahogany are abundant, especially on south slopes. Pinyon juniper habitat supports <br /> the largest nesting bird species list of any upland vegetation type in the West. The richness of <br /> the pinyon juniper vegetation type, however, is important due to its middle elevation. Survey <br />